Chart A - File Types and Features

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Chart A - File Types and Features

File Type (Extension) Creating the File Formatting the File Viewing the File Editing the File File Sizes Linking to Other Files Other

Word 2000 or other wordprocessing software (.doc)
Requires proprietary software (Word 2000); Requires proprietary software (Word 2000); Wide array of formatting options that are maintained when files are transferred Must be downloaded before viewed or modified, unless the Word Viewer is installed Easy to edit once downloaded; Format is mostly maintained; Font changes across various platforms can cause problems in formatting; Requires proprietary software (Word 2000); File sizes tend toward the heavy size Links to documents are less easily created in Word 2000 than in other file formats Use of MS-Word is already prevalent among standards developers; Integration with graphics packages and MS-Office packages

HTML (.html, .htm)
Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software; basic formatting options are available in HTML 4.0 Requires any browser and can be viewed immediately on screen or online - access is immediate Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software File sizes tend to be on the lighter side - quickly downloaded Links to other files provides easy access to related materials

Portable Document Format (.pdf)
Postscript files are created in any software, e.g. Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel and converted into the PDF format by means of Distiller or PDFWriter; also hard copy can be scanned and converted to PDF using Acrobat Capture Preserves formatting Bytestreaming also allows direct viewing online with the use of Acrobat Reader or Exchange; Otherwise, files must be downloaded and opened in Acrobat Reader or in Acrobat Exchange Minor editing is permitted with the aid of Acrobat Exchange, e.g. addition of notes, addition of links, page cropping Significantly smaller file size when created from an electronic source Links to related files can be made with Acrobat Exchange

ASCII Text File (.txt)
Any text editor Limited formatting options - no font options, text alignment options, etc. Can be viewed directly online through most browsers- immediate access Any text editor can make editions File sizes tend to be on the light side No linking capabilities

Rich Text Format (.rtf)
Any text editor Some formatting options available - e.g. text alignment capability, font options, etc. Cannot be viewed directly online; must be downloaded and opened in a word processing software Any word processing software can make modifications File sizes tend to be on the lighter side No linking capabilities

Return to Document Formats

To Chart B - Matrix of Formats vs. Document Types

File Type (Extension)	Creating the File	Formatting the File	Viewing the File	Editing the File	File Sizes	Linking to Other Files	Other
Word 2000 or other wordprocessing software (.doc)	Requires proprietary software (Word 2000);	Requires proprietary software (Word 2000); Wide array of formatting options that are maintained when files are transferred	Must be downloaded before viewed or modified, unless the Word Viewer is installed	Easy to edit once downloaded; Format is mostly maintained; Font changes across various platforms can cause problems in formatting; Requires proprietary software (Word 2000);	File sizes tend toward the heavy size	Links to documents are less easily created in Word 2000 than in other file formats	Use of MS-Word is already prevalent among standards developers; Integration with graphics packages and MS-Office packages
HTML (.html, .htm)	Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software	Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software; basic formatting options are available in HTML 4.0	Requires any browser and can be viewed immediately on screen or online - access is immediate	Requires a basic understanding of HTML, a text editor, or software	File sizes tend to be on the lighter side - quickly downloaded	Links to other files provides easy access to related materials
Portable Document Format (.pdf)	Postscript files are created in any software, e.g. Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel and converted into the PDF format by means of Distiller or PDFWriter; also hard copy can be scanned and converted to PDF using Acrobat Capture	Preserves formatting	Bytestreaming also allows direct viewing online with the use of Acrobat Reader or Exchange; Otherwise, files must be downloaded and opened in Acrobat Reader or in Acrobat Exchange	Minor editing is permitted with the aid of Acrobat Exchange, e.g. addition of notes, addition of links, page cropping	Significantly smaller file size when created from an electronic source	Links to related files can be made with Acrobat Exchange
ASCII Text File (.txt)	Any text editor	Limited formatting options - no font options, text alignment options, etc.	Can be viewed directly online through most browsers- immediate access	Any text editor can make editions	File sizes tend to be on the light side	No linking capabilities
Rich Text Format (.rtf)	Any text editor	Some formatting options available - e.g. text alignment capability, font options, etc.	Cannot be viewed directly online; must be downloaded and opened in a word processing software	Any word processing software can make modifications	File sizes tend to be on the lighter side	No linking capabilities